US-based Nigerians to pay N15,000 each for NIN – TheNigerialawyer

Nigerians based in the United States are to pay between $40 and
$50 each to be enrolled for the national identity number (NIN).

Uche Chigbo, the special assistant to the director-general of
the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), stated this in
New York on Thursday.

NAN reports that Chigbo spoke during a courtesy visit to the
Nigerian Consulate shortly before the exercise was launched in the
city.

She said that registrants aged 15 years old and below would pay
$40 each, while those from 16 years and above will pay $50.

At the official exchange rate, $50 is equivalent to N15,300,
while $40 dollars amounts to N12,240.

Chigbo, who is also the deputy general manager of NIMC,
explained that the commission came up with the fee after looking at
the entire process and what it involved.

“NIMC does not have the legal backing and the resources to go to
another country to enrol people and capture biometrics and other
data,” she said.

“It is in this light that we decided to license private sector
organisations which have the legal backing to engage in such
services.

“They made investments in terms of equipment because we didn’t
give them the equipment they are using; they have to buy all of
that.

“They are also renting offices, employing people and
establishing connections between whichever country they are
operating in and Nigeria so that they can seamlessly send the
records real-time online.

“All of these are investments they are making and as a going
concern, a token should be paid for this service that they are
going to be rendering.”

NAN reports that the diaspora NIN registration was launched in
Houston, Texas on Thursday after it took off in Atlanta and
Washington on Tuesday and Wednesday.

According to Chigbo, the exercise is ongoing in South Africa,
the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom, and would be
extended to China, Europe and India soon.

Listing its benefits, the NIMC official said it would provide a
database for the implementation of the much-desired diaspora
voting.

She also said the NIN has become a requirement for accessing
services provided by the government and private organisations in
Nigeria.

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